A delegation from West Africa’s primary regional bloc ECOWAS on Saturday met Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and held talks with junta chief Normal Abdourahmane Tiani within the capital Niamey, a Nigerian presidential spokesperson mentioned.
The West African team is pursuing diplomatic tactics to opposite the July 26 coup. The coup leaders’ acceptance of the venture may just sign a brand new willingness to barter after the bloc on Friday doubled-down on its danger to make use of power as a final hotel to revive democracy. It mentioned an undisclosed “D-Day” were agreed for conceivable navy intervention.
Whilst earlier ECOWAS missions had been rebuffed, Saturday’s delegation used to be met at Niamey airport via the junta-appointed top minister, an ECOWAS supply mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity.
The gang that flew in used to be led via Nigeria’s former navy chief Abdulsalami Abubakar and incorporated ECOWAS fee President Omar Touray, the supply mentioned.
Nigerian presidential spokesperson Abdulaziz Abdulaziz posted a photograph of the delegation assembly Bazoum.
“After assembly …. (junta chief) Normal Abdoulrahmane Tchiani, the ECOWAS delegation in Niger have additionally visited President Mohamed Bazoum this night time,” he wrote on messaging platform X, previously referred to as Twitter.
He didn’t proportion main points at the end result of talks.
There used to be no fast remark at the negotiations from the junta, which has held Bazoum since seizing energy regardless of global requires his unlock.
However in a televised deal with to the country on Saturday night time, Tiani mentioned neither coup leaders nor “the Nigerien folks need struggle and stay open to discussion.”
He cautioned that Niger used to be in a position to shield itself if wanted. “If an aggression have been to be undertaken towards us, it could now not be the stroll within the park that some imagine,” he mentioned.
Within the intervening time, Tiani mentioned the junta used to be pursuing its personal time table and would release a countrywide discussion to seek the advice of on a transition again to democracy, which “will have to ultimate not than 3 years.”
THOUSANDS VOLUNTEER TO SUPPORT JUNTA
ECOWAS has taken a tougher stance at the Niger coup, the broader area’s 7th in 3 years, than it did on earlier ones. The credibility of the bloc is at stake as it had mentioned it could tolerate no additional such overthrows.
Niger additionally has strategic significance for regional and international powers on account of its uranium and oil reserves and function as a hub for overseas troops concerned within the battle towards the insurgents related to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
Underscoring the pursuits at stake, the U.S. State Division mentioned on Saturday it had despatched a brand new ambassador to Niger whose “diplomatic center of attention shall be to suggest for a diplomatic resolution that preserves the constitutional order.”
The junta’s vow to withstand exterior power to face down has been applauded via many in Niger.
Hundreds of its supporters collected at a stadium in Niamey on Saturday the place the crowding brought on the postponement of an unofficial census of civilian volunteers for non-military roles if ECOWAS does hotel to power.
Printed On:
Aug 20, 2023